The root of the word courage is cor—the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and, today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly need heroes, but I think we’ve lost touch with the idea that speaking honestly and openly about who we are, about what we’re feeling, and about our experiences (good and bad) is the definition of courage. Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line. In today’s world, that’s pretty extraordinary.

Left sleeve contains a small printed heart because we believe it's badass to "Wear your heart on your sleeve™"

Baby rib cotton stretchable collar

Reinforced shoulder construction

Double-needle bottom hem

The inspiration for this shirt comes from Brené’s book, Daring Greatly.

Here’s the full quote:

The phrase Daring Greatly is from Theodore Roosevelt’s speech “Citizenship in a Republic.” The speech, sometimes referred to as “The Man in the Arena,” was delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, on April 23, 1910. This is the passage that made the speech famous:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly... who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly." –Theodore Roosevelt

The Marble Jar Born Maker Tee

Left sleeve contains a small printed heart because we believe it's badass to "Wear your heart on your sleeve™"

Baby rib cotton stretchable collar

Reinforced shoulder construction

Double-needle bottom hem

The inspiration for this shirt comes from Brené’s book, Rising Strong.

Here’s the full quote:

Creativity embeds knowledge so that it can become practice. We move what we’re learning from our heads to our hearts through our hands. We are born makers, and creativity is the ultimate act of integration—it is how we fold our experiences into our being. Over the course of my career, the question I’ve been asked more than any other is, “How do I take what I’m learning about myself and actually change how I’m living?” . . . I’ve come to believe that creativity is the mechanism that allows learning to seep into our being and become practice.

Rising Strong Long-Sleeve Tee

100% of profits from the sale of our Rising Strong collection goes to hurricane relief.

Limited edition Rising Strong shirts do not contain a printed heart on the left sleeve

Comfort Colors Unisex in Washed Denim

100% ring spun cotton

Soft washed garment dyed fabric

Double needle collar

Twill taped neck and shoulders

Rib cuffs

Sizing runs big

The inspiration for this shirt comes from Brené’s book, Rising Strong.

Here’s the full quote:

There is no greater threat to the critics and cynics and fearmongers than those of us who are willing to fall because we have learned how to rise. With skinned knees and bruised hearts; We choose owning our stories of struggle, over hiding, over hustling, over pretending. When we deny our stories, they define us. When we run from struggle, we are never free. So we turn toward truth and look it in the eye. We will not be characters in our stories. Not villains, not victims, not even heroes. We are the authors of our lives. We write our own daring endings. We craft love from heartbreak, compassion from shame, grace from disappointment, courage from failure. Showing up is our power. Story is our way home. Truth is our song. We are the brave and brokenhearted. We are rising strong.

Rising Strong Tee

100% of profits from the sale of our Rising Strong collection goes to hurricane relief.

Limited edition Rising Strong shirts do not contain a printed heart on the left sleeve

American Apparel Unisex in Tri-Indigo

50% polyester/25% cotton/25% rayon

Reinforced shoulder construction

Retains shape and elasticity

Great comfort and durability

The inspiration for this shirt comes from Brené’s book, Rising Strong.

Here’s the full quote:

There is no greater threat to the critics and cynics and fearmongers than those of us who are willing to fall because we have learned how to rise. With skinned knees and bruised hearts; We choose owning our stories of struggle, over hiding, over hustling, over pretending. When we deny our stories, they define us. When we run from struggle, we are never free. So we turn toward truth and look it in the eye. We will not be characters in our stories. Not villains, not victims, not even heroes. We are the authors of our lives. We write our own daring endings. We craft love from heartbreak, compassion from shame, grace from disappointment, courage from failure. Showing up is our power. Story is our way home. Truth is our song. We are the brave and brokenhearted. We are rising strong.

If we’re going to make true belonging a daily practice in our lives, we’re going to need a strong back and a soft front. We’ll need both courage and vulnerability as we abandon the certainty and safety of our ideological bunkers and head off into the wilderness.

True belonging is, however, more than strong back and soft front. Once we’ve found the courage to stand alone, to say what we believe and do what we feel is right despite the criticism and fear, we may leave the wilderness, but the wild has marked our hearts. That doesn’t mean the wilderness is no longer difficult, it means that once we’ve braved it on our own, we will be painfully aware of our choices moving forward. We can spend our entire life betraying ourself and stood up for ourself and our beliefs, the bar is higher. A wild heart fights fitting in and grieves betrayal.

If we’re going to make true belonging a daily practice in our lives, we’re going to need a strong back and a soft front. We’ll need both courage and vulnerability as we abandon the certainty and safety of our ideological bunkers and head off into the wilderness.

True belonging is, however, more than strong back and soft front. Once we’ve found the courage to stand alone, to say what we believe and do what we feel is right despite the criticism and fear, we may leave the wilderness, but the wild has marked our hearts. That doesn’t mean the wilderness is no longer difficult, it means that once we’ve braved it on our own, we will be painfully aware of our choices moving forward. We can spend our entire life betraying ourself and stood up for ourself and our beliefs, the bar is higher. A wild heart fights fitting in and grieves betrayal.